P 666 
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lopv 1 




t^ESOUt^CES, 
ADVAflTflGES 

DEVEliOP|VIENT. 



PrBPAREO and COMPmED BY 

JOS. GARNEAU, JR., Commissioner General, 

Nebraska Columbian Exhibit. 

1893. 



REES PRINTINQ COl, OMAHA. 






NEBEASKA: 



HER 



Resources, Advantages, 



AND 



Development. 



F. 



NEBRASKA. 



Almost midway between the two g-reatest oceans of 
the world, its eastern boundary marked by the I'apid 
flowing- Missouri, the westernmost counties shadowed 
by the towering- ranges of the Rockies, with the land 
of the Dakotas to the north and the great agricultural 
state of Kansas to the south, lies the g-arden spot of 
that vast and shadowy country which but a few short 
years since was only known as "The Great American 
Desert.'' 

Today it is the State of Nebraska, the happy home 
of one million and a half of thrifty, industrious and 
prosperous people. In less than a third of a century — 
only a moment in the life of a nation — the rolling- 
j)rairies, the well watered valleys and the undulating- 
slopes of Nebraska have been reclaimed from the do- 
minion of the Indian and the stampedes of the buffalo. 

The early explorers who traversed the continent 
seem to have been blind to the possibility of a civiliza- 
tion between the Missouri River and the Golden Shores 
beyond the Rockies. Later on the gold seekers crossed 
the plains with their bull-trains and heeded not the 
unbroken land that asked only to be tickled with hoe 
to smile a harvest. 

Later ag-ain a few pioneers ventured to this un- 
known country and, notwithstanding- privations that 
now seem impossible to endure, they sent such g-lowing- 
accounts of Nebraska, as an agricultural paradise, that 
the g-reatest wave of immigration known in the history 
of America set in from east to west, and the Great 
American Desert became only a name and a tradition. 

The virgin soil of Nebraska proved from the begin- 
ning especially suitable for corn, and the early settler 
had a crop harvested in such a short time that the 
bounty of nature seemed to him to pass belief when he 
saw the marvelous result of his first labor. What 
one man did, so did another. Corn was crowned king 
of Nebraska, and in 1891 there were no less than four 
million six hundred thousand acres devoted to his ser- 
vice in the State. 

The corn crop of Nebraska may well be deemed a 
guarantee given by nature to the pioneers, insuring 
them a living while they were settling the State, 



4 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 

building" up its social institutions, preparing the way 
for those who were to follow them, and making ready 
the land to produce a wealth and variety of crops the 
bare enumeration of which almost taxes belief. 

Before dealing- with the unequalled resources of 
Nebraska in detail, it may be well to say that the life 
of the State has developed with m^arvelous rapidity. 
It has been no mushroom growth, but a rational, logi- 
cal advance in all things that go to make up a free and 
liberal commonwealth. Railroads gridiron eighty-one 
of its ninety counties. Cities have been born and have 
grown with healthy vigor. Education is amply provided 
for in schools which dot every township. Churches 
of all denominations rear their spires and cupolas to 
the clear sky. The city and county governments are 
enlightened and progressive. Even the advantages of 
climaie are added, and no clearer air can be breathed, 
no such regularly diversified seasons, each with its own 
importance to the State, can be enjoyed as in this, the 
most generously blessed of all the States — Nebraska. 

It is the purpose of this pamphlet to show very 
briefly, and without the wearying addition of sta.tis- 
tics some of the advantages and resources -of Ne- 
braska. The State extends a hearty welcome to all 
who make it their home, relying upon the co-operation 
of every immigrant to make Nebraska the model State 
of the West. 

CLIMATE. 

The climate is invigorating and salubrious, and is 
almost perfect from the point of view of an agricultur- 
alist. Spring opens early and sowing at once begins. 
Summer is genei-ally .hot, but the days are followed by 
delightfully cooling evening breezes, which sweep 
from the west ovei- the Rockies and destroy the risk of 
malaria. The Fall is the glory of the Nebraskan. 
admirable for the slow ripening of crops, and permit- 
ting the farmer to do the most important work of the 
year under clear skies and in genial sunshine until 
late in December. The winter is short and rarely se- 
vere. The natui'al formation of the country insures 
immunity from the terrors of cyclones, and the con- 
stant movement of the mild air is most beneficial to 
the unfortunate victims of pulmonary troubles. Of 
course, in an agricultural country the question of rain- 
fall is — to Use a Hibernicism — a burning one. 
Experience has shown that the average i-ainfall in 
Nebi'aska is sufficient for all needs. The average for 
the State is 24.42 inches, which may at first seem in- 
sufficient, but it is found that the State gets more than 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVEL0P:\7ENT. 5 

half its rain-fall in one-third of the year, and that 
third the most important, viz., the months of April. 
May, June and July — the growing- months. Observa- 
tions made during these m-onths, in a fairly typical 
section of the State, show an absolute rain- fall of 14.10 
inches which compares with an average for the same 
months, 13.53 inches in the six Atlantic States. 15.08 
inches in Ohio. 15.87 inches in Indiana, and 13.90 
inches in Illinois. Professor Godwin D. Sweezy, the 
well known meteorologist, says "The result of a com- 
pilation of rain-fall data for the State shows that its 
precipitation, especially for the growing season, is not 
far behind that of States lying to the east of us, such 
as Illinois, Indiana and Ohio." 

Such a showing is most satisfactory, and as cultiva- 
tion is increased and extended and trees reach maturity, 
there is little reason to doubt that the annual precipi-- 
tation will perceptibly increase. Rain is said to follow 
the plow, and every step that the colonizing farmer 
takes westward, is followed by increased rains as the 
land is turned over. Groves and forest trees are also 
rain producers. They retain the moisture until evap- 
oration restores it to the atmosphere. 

THE SOIL. 

The term soil is usually applied to the surface of 
the ground, not so in Nebraska. In this favored 
country the high prairie land is a rich black mould, 
some thirty inches deep. This is underlaid with the 
'"loess," a formation from ten to one hundred feet in 
depth and as favorable to plant growth as the mould. 
The soil is so well mixed with sand that it acts like a 
sponge, absorbing water and holding it until, as in 
time of drought, nature demands its return to the 
surface. The general idea of a prairie is that it is 
flat, but is not always so. This region is a great 
plateau, sloping gently from the mountains to the Mis- 
souri River. It is diversified by many valleys and 
numbers of clear streams. It was once the bed of an 
inland sea. and each geological change since that con- 
dition existed added something to the land to fit it to 
be what it is today, the richest agricultural country 
in the West. 

The State has. in recent years, collected a vast 
body of information on the subject of irrigation, which 
is a question of much importance. It is true that ow- 
ing to the time of year at which the greatest rain-fall 
occurs, irrigation is not needed to produce fine crops. 
but experiments have shown that the production on 



6 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 

irrigated lands is increased from one hundred to six 
hundred per cent. Numerous irrigating- companies 
have been started, and so far the results have fully 
justified the expenditure. The waters of the Platte, 
the Niobrara, the Republican and the Loup Rivers, and 
their almost countless tributaries permit an immense 
area to be irrigated at small cost. So far irrigation 
work has been confined to the western part of the 
State, where the rain-fall is least, and the appearance 
of that remote region, where even the most sanguine 
hardly dare to hope for successful cultivation, has been 
completely changed. 

WATER SUPPLY. 

Nebraska is blessed with an ample supply of water 
for stock and domestic purposes. There is a vast 
sheet of water overlaying the rock, or floor, of the 
sloping plateau. Melted snow and rains are constantly 
replenishing this unseen sea. There is no difficulty 
in sinking wells, and wind mills are operated without 
trouble or inconvenience, as the winds never fail and 
the cost is light. The advantages of this condition 
are apparent. No inconvenience arises from the frozen 
streams and ponds in winter, and in the heat of summer 
the water thus raised from the rock bed is pure, cool 
and refreshing. 

FARM PRODUCTS. 

To enumerate the successful products of Nebraska 
would be to recapitulate everything that is grown any- 
where except in the tropics, and first in importance 
comes the king of grains, corn. 

In 1892 there were four million, nine hundred eighty- 
one thousand, seven hundred and fifty- four acres 
planted in corn, and even in the least productive parts 
of the state the yield rarely fell short of twenty-five 
bushels to the acre, while it reaches sixty and even 
seventy bushels to the acre in better situated districts 
It is found that where the yield of corn is small — in 
the higher and colder regions — oats, barley and other 
small grains do remarkably well. Official returns 
show that the cost of producing corn varies from $4.13 
to $8.87 per acre, and that estimate is inclusive of an 
allowance of eight per cent interest on the value of the 
land. It is, therefore, readily seen that the higher 
cost occurs where, on account of special advantages of 
locality, capacity for the production of large crops, or 
other reasons the land is valued highly. Perhaps the 
lowest price obtained for corn is twenty cents a bushel, 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 7 

but where the stalks are used for fodder and the corn 
is fed to hogs and stock, the value is much greater to 
the farmer, and it may be said without fear of contra- 
diction that raising corn is invariably profitable. 

When local needs had been satisfied, it is found 
that seventy-two out of ninety counties shipped during 
the year 1891 no less than 2-4,295,500 bushels of corn. 
Even in the face of these figures it must be remem- 
bered that the crop of 1891, was not up to the average, 
and that railroad shipments only are included. No 
account being taken of the vast shipments taken out of 
the county and state in wagon loads. No one can 
overrate the importance of this staple crop. It is 
especially suitable to a new country, as it is easily 
raised within a very short time from the breaking of 
the land, and it serves not alone to support the farmer 
during his most struggling days, but fits the land for 
an almost endless variety of other crops. And corn 
has been raised for over twenty years in succession 
without the use of any artificial fertilizer. 

A few years ago it was considered that corn could 
only be grown in the eastern or river counties of 
Nebraska, but now the area has been extended almost 
to the western limit of the State, and there it is found 
that as corn disappears wheat raising takes its place. 

WHEAT. 

The subject of wheat cultivation in Nebraska is one 
of enormous importance. Notwithstanding the fact 
that there are no less than 1,229,665 acres in the State 
reported to have been planted in wheat in 1892, and 
that the wheat crop of 1891 was 18,000,000 bushels, it is 
only within the last couple of years that the probability 
of Nebraska being a successful rival of her sister 
states, Kansas and Iowa, as a wheat producing country 
has been seriously considered by the farmers. It has 
been shown that a part of the State in which the heat 
is not sufficient for an exceptional corn crop, is singu- 
larly well adapted to the raising of wheat. But the 
discovery of greatest moment that has been made is 
that Nebraska is capable of taking first place as a pro- 
ducer of winter wheat. 

No longer can there be any doubt as to the adapta- 
bility of Nebraska soil and climate for the successful 
production of winter wheat. The importance of this 
industry has never been fully realized in Nebi'aska 
until this season's crop was being harvested. The 
reports of extraordinary yields coming from all por- 
tions of the State where winter wheat had been i-own. 



S NEBRASKA S RESOURCES, 

the equal of which had scarcely a parallel in the his- 
tory of the best wheat- growing districts in the United 
States, influenced a disposition among- farmers to learn 
more of winter wheat, its cultivation, methods of seed- 
ing, varieties of seed best suited to our climate, soil, 
etc. The old prejudice against fall sowing, because of 
winter killing, freezing out. blowing out' owing to the 
loose, spongy condition of the soil, had no longer a 
place to base its argument and yielded to the force of 
new methods. 

This revolution in wheat production on the western 
prairie farms has been coming steadily forward for 
several years. Kansas was the first to prove the 
advantage of fall sowing over the spring sowing. The 
influence of their good crops extended north across the 
State line, until now the entire south Platte country of 
Nebraska is largely engaged in growing winter wheat, 
the spring wheat crop representing but a small per 
cent, of the wheat product of that section of the State. 

Nebraska's wheat crop of 1891 is represented under 
the estimate of 18,000,000 bushels. Tb.- large yield 
of winter wheat in the southern portion of the State is 
responsible in a great measure for the aggregate 
increase over former years. The crop of 1892 will show 
a large increase over last year, and the outlook for a 
greatly increased area for 1893 can only be realized 
after canvassing the hundreds of reports sent in by 
farmers from all over the state of the increased acreage 
of winter wheat already seeded in their respective 
localities. It is safe to place the increase in acreage 
in all parts of the state, where winter wheat has been 
tested, at 30 or 40 per cent, over last season's sowing. 
There is good reason, however, to believe that there 
will be a decrease in the spring wheat aci'eage of 1893, 
for the reason that the yield of winter wheat bar, ex- 
ceeded that of spring sowing from one-third to double, 
in most instances, where the two crops were tested on the 
same farm, besides being a much better quality of grain 
and bringing a much better price on the market. 

The advantages offered the farmer in the cultivation 
of the winter wheat crop are many. The v/ork of put- 
ting in this crop comes between harvest and corn 
gathering, a season of the year not crowded with any 
other special work on the farm. The land devoted to 
this crop is put out of the way at once, and demands no 
more attention until harvest, leaving the farmer with 
one 2ess small grain crop to provide for in the throng 
of spring work, unless some disaster of fall drouth, or 
winter freezing, destroys the chances for a crop, which 
injury may be fully determined in the spring, in time 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 

to put the f?round in Gprinc Vv^ieat, oats, corn or millet. 
It is not like the failure of a ijpring- crop, which de- 
mands the choosing- between buckwheat and millet, or 
let the land lay idle during the year. The early matur- 
ing of the winter wheat crop gets it safely out of the 
way, in harvest, before any other grain crop is ripe. 

The natural adaptation of Nebraska soil and climate 
to the sucessful growing of this crop is largely attrib- 
uted to two special features— one. the natural and ex- 
cellent drainage of our country, leaving comparatively 
a very small per cent of land in the State too flat or too 
wet for its winter protection, and the other the free- 
ness from winter injury by freezing out, owin.g to the 
peculiar absorbing properties of our soil, which does 
not permit of excessive moisture freezing and heaving 
UD the top soil, to the injury of grass or grain crops. 
This is the cause of more winter wheat injury m the 
heavy clay soils of the Eastern States than all other 
causes combined. Our porous soils, aided by the dry 
climate, makes our country practically free from this 
kind of injury. . ' 

The method of seeding has more to do with the jield 
than any other feature of the crop work. The improved 
drills are conceded by all practical agriculturists as 
the best means of putting the seed in the ground. The 
seed is all placed at a uniform depth below the surface. 
whe>'e it receives a uniform influence in causing it to 
germinate and grow the plant. It comes up uniformly 
strong and vigorous. The depth of the root is suffi- 
cient to prevent all ordinary light winds from uncover- 
ing the plant roots, as often occurs in dry spells to 
wheat sown broadcast and not protected with a proper 
depth of well packed soil around it. The soil being 
generally of a loose loam or sandy loam, is easily 
moved by high winds during dry seasons, consequently 
the necessity of compressing the soil to guard against 
this influence, which the new press drill has fully sup- 
plied. The advantage, also, in seed saving is advo- 
cated by some as an important feature m favor ot this 
method" of sowing. ^ ^ . x-u a 

The old broadcast plan of sowing, wasted the seed, 
some being covered too deep, some too shallow, and per- 
ished in the germinating process, while a large percent 
was not covered at all, but left to be taken up by the 
birds. A bushel of wheat put in by drill will give 
better results than a bushel and a half sown broadcast. 
The time of seeding has much to do with securing a 
good crop. The early seeding is preferable. Septem- 
ber is regarded the best month for sowing winter 
wheat. The general estimate of increase by the press 



JO NiliiKASKA'S RESOURCES, 

drill process over broadcast sowing is fifty to sixty 
per cent. 

No better understanding' can be had of the im- 
mensity of the winter wheat yield in Nebraska, and 
the encouraging outlook for this crop than to take a 
few examples of wheat that has been produced this 
year. 

E. R. Caine, of Holdredge, says he sowed, last fall, 
twenty acres of corn-ground with fall wheat, cultivated 
it in with shovel plow and secured a yield of twenty 
bushels per acre. The same party sowed eighteen 
acres with press drill and secured a yield of thirty-four 
bushels per acre. 

Mr. Bennet Edwin, of Exeter, sowed seventy acres of 
winter wheat last fall b\- drill and harvested forty-five 
bushels per acre, at a cost not to exceed six dollars per 
acre. 

Z. S. Sage of Wymore says: Our yields are from 
twenty-five to fifty-two bushels per acre, the big yields 
invariably being where the press drill was used. The 
cost per acre, will not exceed $5.10 to grow a crop of 
Yv^heat and make it ready for the market. We estimate 
plowing $1, seed 75 cents, cutting and twine 85 cents, 
threshing $2, and stacking and hauling 50 cents. 

It is estimated that 80,000acres tributary to Strang, 
Nebraska, were planted to winter wheat last year and 
yielded an average of twenty-five bushels per acre, 
the cost per acre being five dollars, delivered at the 
elevator and the wheat selling at fifty to fifty-five 
cents. 

Scores of instances may be cited where the yields of 
winter wheat in Nebraska this year ranged from forty- 
five to fifty-four bushels per acre. 

When the exporting value of our Nebraska winter 
wheat has been fully determined the wealth of this 
industry w^ill then be ready for development. 

Further examples might be cited by the hundred 
showing the marvelous results of planting winter 
wheat. Two taken at random from a large number 
received will suffice. 

Frank B. Snyder of Stratton, Hitchcock county, 
says: I had in sixty-five acres of fall wheat this year, 
cost of putting in same was: 

4 days work at $3.50 per day $ 14 00 

65 bushels seed at 65c. per bushel 42 25 

Cost of threshing 1,365 bushels at 6c. per 

bushel (the amount I'aised) 81 90 

Cost of hauling same to cars 30 00 

Total cost $168 15 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 11 

After deducting freight charges to Chicago 
I received: 1,365 bushels at 50 cents per 
bushel 682 50 

I have a clear profit of $514 35 

From the sixty-five acres of ground my wheat only 
averaged twenty-one bushels per acre which is low 
average for fall wheat this year. In my estimation 
there is thirty-five per cent more made by putting in 
fall wheat than putting in spring wheat. Fall wheat 
is in nearly all cases clear of smut while spring wheat 
is not. 

J. D. Licklider, of the same place, gives the fol- 
lowing, which shows a net profit on 156 acres of land 
to be $1,818.90: 

Breaking 156 acres $ 287 00 

Discing three times and harrowing once, 

di'illing in grain, board for men and teams 287 05 

Seed wheat 142 50 

Cutting and shocking 121 45 

Stacking, threshing, boarding hands and 

teams 469 70 

Total expense $1,307 70 

4,454 bushels of wheat, llic. per bushel ..... 3.173 40 

Net profit $1,865 70 

Perhaps the most important point to be borne in 
mind is, that if by any chance the winter wheat should 
fail, the farmer will be aware of the failure in sufficient 
time to put in a crop of corn, for which his land will be 
in a state of perfect preparation and his only loss will 
be the cost of the seed for his fall wheat sowing. It 
cannot be too strongly urged that to insure success the 
use of a press drill is almost absolutely necessary. In 
addition to the advantages of sowing with a press drill 
already described, it may be added that the little fur- 
rows retain the snow and provide a sufficient moisture 
just when it is most needed. 

If further proof is needed it may be found in three 
examples from Lawrence, (Nuckolls County). John 
Hoaveka put in sixteen acres of winter wheat with a 
drill, and threshed 550 bushels. 

Anton Katenika put in fifteen acres with a drill and 
threshed 500 bushels, and Henry Williams, who sowed 
twenty-four acres broadcast, only threshed 532 bushels. 
Comment on the difference in results is needless. 

The yield of winter wheat, when properly put in, has 
proven much larger than spring wheat, and of a great 



12 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 

deal better quality, grading No. 2, while a greater 
portion of the spring wheat grades No. ] or less, mak- 
ing the winter wheat worth at least five cents per 
bushel more. Our neighboring- states, Iowa and Kan- 
sas, last year's (1891) products in this cereal was much 
larger than ours; Kansas having produced 60,000,000 
bushels — Iowa 28,500,000, while Nebraska raised only 
18,000,000. There is no reason why we should not, with 
equal advantages in the way of climate, soil and our 
intelligent farming community, do equally as well. 

Here then is a glorious prospect for the settler in 
Nebraska. In the colder regions near the Colorado 
State line he finds a climate specially adapted to 
wheat. In the eastern, central and southern counties 
the land is so well prepared that a yield of wheat which 
seems incredible rewards his labors. In brief it may 
be said that on land worth twenty dollars per acre 
there is an average yield of thirty-five bushels per 
acre, costing to produce five dollars per acre, and worth 
at the very lowest fifty-five cents a bushel, thus giving a 
profit, after allowing ten per cent interest on the value 
of the land, of twelve dollars and twenty-five cents per 
acre. 

The light is rapidly spreading and five years from 
today Nebraska's winter wheat crop will equal if not 
exceed that of Kansas. 

OTHER CROPS. 

Oats, flax, rye, millet and barley flourish, and there 
are no less than one hundred fifty four grasses found in 
the State, most of them highly nutritious. Tobacco 
culture has been experimentally tried in the State, and 
has resulted in a crop of fifteen hundred pounds to the 
acre. The cost of cultivation is estimated from forty 
dollars to sixty dollars an acre. Another new industry 
has taken permanent hold in Nebraska. A company 
has been organized in Holt County, the object being to 
cultivate, purchase and manufacture the agricultural 
product of chicory. Mr. Bazelman, a Belgian, with 
great experience in his native country in this industry, 
has thoroughly satisfied himself that it is admirably 
adapted to successful culture in Nebraska. The aver- 
age price of raw chicory is nine dollars per ton, and 
the yield will average ten to eleven tons per acre. 
There is no more secret in its cultivation than for corn. 
Statistics show that $8,000,000 worth of chicory is im- 
ported annually into the United States. 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 



13 



BEET CULTURE. 

Another source of riches in this favored land is 
found in its suitability to the cultivation of the sugar 
beet. Already beet sugar is being- made at Norfolk and 
Grand Island, and the results prove conclusively that 
in no other pai-t of the country can this vastly import- 
ant product be better raised. Until 1892, operations 
had hardly got beyond the experimental stage, yet in 
that year the Grand Island refinery consumed 160.000 
tons of beets, yielding 2,110.000 pounds best quality of 
sugar. The smaller refinery at Norfolk consumed 
90,000 tons of beets, yielding 1,700,000 pounds of sugar. 
It is impossible to state how many acres in the State 
are plated to beets, but observation shows that the 
acreage in 1893 will very nearly double that of 1892. 
Some examples taken at random are here given show- 
ing the results of beet cultivation: 



Name and Address. 



Fred Roby, Grand Island 

John F. Harrison, York 

Charles Redel, Loup City 

Anthony Shaefer, Red Cloud 

W. B. Wilson, Hastings 

Charles Klein, Tobias 

August Heuman, Seward 

J. H. Stewart, Broken Bow 

Geo. B. Rood, North Loup 

Phelps County S.B. Co.,Holdrege 

F. Garbera, Chapman 

Margaret Huebert, Hampton 

Henry Lubs, Alda 

.T. T. Mallelieu, Kearney 

Edward Amman, St. Paul 

L. L, Doane, Scotia 

J. F. Loghry, Geneva 

David Brandt, Abbott 

D. C. Kuns, McCool Junction.... 
J. H. Wagner, Wolbach 



3 
2 
1 
3 
3 

1% 

1 

2 

5 
20 

2 

1 

2 
75 

2 

1 
3 

IK 
2 



50.8 
35.0 
14.1 
44.5 
43.1 
18.5 
13.1 
18.7 
62.4 

193.4 

17.3 

9.2 

20.0 

784.8 
10 5 
20.8 
10.1 
32.2 
17.8 
21.7 






16.9 
17.5 
14.1 
14.8 
14.4 
10.6 
13.1 
9.3 
12.5 
9.7 
8.6 
9.2 
10.0 
10.5 
10.5 
10.4 
10.1 
10.7 
11.9 
10.8 



? 221 39 

140 17 

63 62 

177 91 

172 46 

105 92 

52 36 

102 95 

249 76 

993 62 

96 57 

46 06 

91 65 

3,476 20 

42 25 

83 23 

40 76 

144 15 

71 28 

86 93 



as 

<3g 



< a. 



$73 8fl 
70 W 
63 62 

59 30 
57 49 

60 52 
52 36 
51 47 
49 95 
49 68 
48 26 
46 06 

45 82 

46 35 

42 25 
41 61 
40 76 
48 05 

47 52 

43 46 



Beet culture is really the raising of a field crop by 
horticultural methods. Great care is needed, and the 
farmers have shown considerable timidity about tak- 
ing up a crop with which they were wholly unfamiliar. 
Speaking of this, one of the leading authorities on the 
subject says: 

''You see, the beet has to be treated with great 
tenderness. The sweetness has to be worked into it, 



14 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 

SO to speak. First, you must be careful in the selec- ■ 
tion of your ground. It must be deep soil, with a soft 
sub-soil that will allow the water to pass through. 
Un worked land will not do, as the Aveeds are apt to be 
too rank; sandy soil will not do. because it will flow; 
freshly manured ground makes too coarse a beet: wet 
ground will not do at all, because, while the beets 
need a good deal of moisture, they must not be allowed 
to stand in the water. 

"Deep plowing is most essential. You see, the 
ground must be soft and yielding. It's not safe to 
plant before the first week in April, and the last plant- 
ing ought not to be later than the middle of May. If a 
man has a large field, there is some advantage in 
sowing different blocks of it at different times because 
that allows the farmer more time to attend to them. 
When the plant has formed good leaves, which under 
the right conditions is about five or six v/eeks. then is 
the time for thinning out. And much depends upon 
having this well done. Up to this time the beet has 
not been touched, except in the way of light but 
frequent cultivation. In the thinning out, the bunches 
are so separated that each beet left remaining in the 
ground stands quite by itself. If two beets are left 
together they twist around one another and neither 
amounts to anything. They should be left from six 
to eight inches apart in the row, the rows being, you 
understand, far enough apart to allow a horse to pass 
between them. There is a little knack about this 
thinning. 

"In order to do it so as not to loosen the beet that 
is left in the ground, and at the same time to get up 
the entire root of the one you are uprooting requires a 
peculiar twist of the wrist. But when it is once 
learned one does it instinctively. After this thinning 
has been thoroughly done the crop is practically 
assured. The sun, the rain and the wind does the rest. 
It takes about five months for the beet to mature."' 

It is apparent that it is far better for many farmers to 
devote small parcels of land to beet culture than for a 
few to raise it on a large scale. It is well adapted to 
the special circumstances of a farmer with a young 
family, because the children can easily do the light 
work of tending and cultivating without undue inter- 
ference with their school attendance or other pursuits. 
Taking the low average of ten tons to the acre— and 
under favorable conditions it must be remembered that 
thirty tons to the acre is no uncommon result — at $5 
a ton is $50 an acre to the farmer, less interest on the 
value of his land and the labor of cultivation. 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMEN 15 

Drought has no terrors for the beet raiser. The 
year 1890 has passed into history as the driest and hot- 
test season Nebraska has experienced in twelve years. 
During- that season nearly all crops suffered most 
severely from drought, in many cases being literally 
burnt out. Beets, on the contrary, showed that they 
could withstand such extremes, and while the tonnage 
yield w-as small the sugar contents was exceptionally 
large. The season of 1891 went to the other extreme, 
behig the wettest and coldest on record for a period of 
ten years. During this season, while all other crops 
have done well, the beet crop is not behind; a larger 
tonnage having been obtained than in 1891, but with a 
correspondingly smaller sugar content. 

Finally such data as are available show that fifteen 
tons per acre with a sugar content of thirteen and one 
half per cent is a fair average yield for the whole 
state, and that sugar beets make one of the best of 
cattle foods, of especial importance in the West where 
nitrogenous cattle foods are relatively scarce. 
< 
FRUIT CULTURE. 

There are 3,816,463 fruit trees in Nebraska, exclu- 
sive of 982,437 grape vines, and the importance of 
developing commercial orchards is attracting the seri- 
ous attention of the farmer. Blackberries, gooseberries 
currants, mulberries and strawberries rarely fail to 
yield substantial results to the grower. But it is the 
apple orchard that gives the best results. Nebraska 
I'aises nearly every apple that is grown in any part of 
the country. 

The counties of Richardson, Nemaha, Otoe and 
Cass, on the Missouri River, entered more largely into 
early orcharding, and at present have more old bear- 
ing api)le trees than any other portion of the State. 
There are many natural climatic, soil, and other con- 
ditions existing in these counties which seemed to 
warrant them in the claim that they are better adapted 
to fruit culture than interior counties. This, to an ex- 
tent, is true; yet there has been much more planting 
done of late years in many of the interior counties, 
especially of purely commercial o-rchard^, and which 
at present give promise. of equally good results as in the 
older counties named. This is more particularly so in 
the counties of Saline and Jefferson. 

The prices annually range, for summer and fall apples, 
20 to 40 cents per bushel at the orchards. For winter 
appleti at the orchards, or delivered at railroad stations, 



16 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 

from 40 to 75 cents. Short seasons" select apples com- 
mand $1 per bushel readily at the orchard. 

Planting commercial orchards is largely on the 
increase. The quality of apples as a rule is good. 
Large shipments of Nebraska apples grown in 1891 
■went East into older states. In fact some of the best 
keepers went abroad. 

For Avinter varieties Ben Davis, Winesap, Rawle's 
Gennett (Jennetin), Willow Twig, Rome Beauty, 
Grime's Golden, and Jonathan are termed "'iron clads.'" 
Nearly all worthy varieties grown anywhere in the 
United States are successfully produced in this State. 

Train loads of Nebraska apples were sent East dur- 
ing the shipping season of last year, successfully 
taking the place of the high grade which it had here- 
tofore been thought that New York State alone could 
furnish. They found their way to the London market 
and fully upheld the reputation of the American fruit, 
whose representatives they were for the first tim-e 
elected to be. Apple culture in Nebraska has been 
very successful, and has long since passed the experi- 
mental stage as to suitable varieties and the best 
methods of cultivation. The county of Otoe alone 
shipped more than a half million bushels in the fall of 
1891. Cass County produced the largest apple ever 
grown in the "world. Orchards planted thirty years 
ago are still producing abundantly of the best quality. 
Two hundred miles west of the river, in Furnas, and 
the line of counties to the north, are to be seen m.any 
flourishing and extensive orchards just coming into 
the prime of bearing, and the sr.me is true of Red Wil- 
low and other localities w^here the settlements are suf- 
ficiently old for the apple to begin to make returns. 
At Elsie, in Perkins County, an orchard of six hundred 
trees shows scarcely one missing, while the groAvth of 
every individual tree is all that could be desii'ed. 

Peaches, while not so reliable as less tender fruits, 
are successfully raised by those who make a specialty 
of them. The crop of 1891 was exceptionally good, as 
is evidenced by the fact that the well-known Reynolds 
Orchard, near Wymore, produced enough that were 
sold to more than equal the entire sum of money that 
would have bought the premises the previous spring. 
But this is an unusual instance, and no special stress is 
laid upon it. Plums, cherries and grapes areas staple 
and certain as corn, being unexcelled anywhere in the 
world in size, beauty, quality and prolific yield. The 
small fruits are just as well adapted to the country 
and are produced with equal ease and success. 

Freedom from insect pests is a rare advantage 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 17 

enjoyed by the Nebraska fruit-grower, while the ship- 
ping quality of his fruit is simply remarkable. This 
last is no idle claim. There ai-e unquestionably differ- 
ences in this respect in different localities, and this 
happens to be the one which excels. Fruit ripens 
early, and finds a market both East and West. There 
is one difficulty encountered by the fruit-grower here, 
and one only, and it is frankly mentioned. He finds 
some difficulty away from the larger cities in hiring 
for the harvest the cheap child labor which is moi-e 
abundant East. But thib condition will no doubt be 
outgrov/n by the time an orchard of the standard fruits, 
bet out now, would need the hand of the harvester. 

TREE PLANTING. 

The cultivation of timber began soon after the first 
settlements made in 1854, and at present there are 
66.937,494 forest trees in Nebi-aska, and every year 
more attention is being given to arbor-culture. To 
the Hon. J. Sterling Morton, the present Secretary of 
Agriculture, is due the credit of having awakened 
such interest in the vital necessity of changing the 
almost treeless condition of the State, and it is found 
that no less than 131 varieties of trees and shrubs now 
thrive from end to end of the State. 

The Nebraska State Constitution provides that 
"the increased value of land, by reason of live fences, 
fruit and forest trees grown and cultivated thereon, 
shall not be taken into consideration in the assessment 
thereof. A State law "exempts from taxation for five 
years, $100 valuation for each acre of fruit trees 
planted, and $50 for each acre of forest trees." Also 
makes it obligatory that "the corporate authorities of 
cities and villages in the State shall cause shade 
trees to be planted along the streets thereof." Further, 
"any person who shall injure or destroy the shade 
tree or trees of another, or permit his or her animals 
to do the same, shall be liable to a fine of not less than 
$5 nor more than $50 for each tree injured or de- 
stroyed." To encourage growing live fences, the law 
permits planting "precisely on tUe line of the road or 
highway, and for its protection, to occupy for a term 
of seven years, six feet of the road or highway." 

In no State in the Union has the beautiful holiday 
of Arbor Day such a significance. On that day each 
year hundreds of thousands of trees are planted, im- 
proving farming lands, beautifying the homes of the 
citizens and embellishing, as nothing but shade trees 
can embellish them, the wide streets and boulevards 



18 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 

of the cities, towns and villages. Red cedar, bur oak, 
black walnut, yellow pine, white elm and cottonwood 
spread their grateful shade through the length and 
breadth of the State, in addition to most of the sixty- 
two varieties reported, together with sixty-nine vari- 
eties of useful hardy herbs. 

STOCK-RAISING. 

In point of raising horses, cattle and hogs cheaply 
and easily this section of the country stands without a 
peer anywhere. The mildness of the winter weather 
and the abundance of nutritious wild grasses in locali- 
ties that are but moderately adapted to farming, makes 
it possible to bring horses and cattle to maturity, fitted 
for market, without ever tasting grain or cut hay. In- 
deed, this was but a short time ago the constant prac- 
tice on a large scale. The general settlement of the 
vast grazing grounds has not altered the esential con- 
ditions; it has made it impracticable to take advantage 
of them on the same broad gauge as before. The stock 
must be kept off the crops and premises of others than 
their owner. It may be new to many eastern people to 
know that fences ar-e not compulsory in Nebraska. It 
has been found cheaper to fence the stock up in pas- 
tures or keep it in charge of a herder than to fence 
every field as protection against trespass. There were 
two very excellent reasons for the original adoption of 
this policy. One was that the poor man could open his 
farm with much less cost and labor without fencing, 
and would thus be enabled to open out a great deal 
more land with the plow. Another was that the better 
care the stock itself would receive, by being constantly 
under the eye of a keeper, would be profitable. Both 
the assumptions have eminently justified their authors, 
and the production of the largest crops and the best 
stock has been the result. Being able to dispense with 
the enormous trouble and cost of fencing is a great ad- 
vantage to the settler, no matter how rich he is, and 
it has proven the salvation of the great prairies. It is 
said, and not publicly contradicted, that the fences of 
states like Ilinois have actually cost more than all the 
farm stock in the states is worth. A quarter-section 
farm requires for its proper handling, where stock is 
allowed to run at large, about four miles of fence. Es- 
itmating the cost of this at one dollar per rod, which 
is certainly low enough, we have absorbed in this one 
wholly unproductive item the sum of $1,280. To this 
must be added the never-ending repairs it calls for, 
as well as the damage done by trespassing stock. 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 19 

Suppose two young- farmers to start even, one in Illinois 
and one in Nebraska. The Illinois man invests $1,300 in 
fence, while the Nebraska man puts a like amount of 
money into cows, mares and hog-s. It can be seen at a 
glance that the farmer who fences has no show in the 
race with the more fortunate man who lives in Neb- 
raska. The fence is non-productive; it simply protects 
in some degree against loss. In Nebraska there is no 
loss of that sort to be protected against, and the trouble 
and care involved in the restraint of stock are in them- 
selves profitable, because they guarantee that the ani- 
mals receive proper attention in the matter of feed, 
water and health. 

Rorses and cattle are raised two ways in Nebraska; 
by all farmers on a email scale, as incidental to the 
conducting of the farm itself, and by those who make 
breeding their chief occupation. Both have the most 
healthful reigon in the world, where loss from disease 
is almost unknown. The farmer has the cheapest land 
and the cheapest feed in the world, and of course he 
makes a profit. Nobody will doubt this, and it is 
unnecessary to support it with proof. The man who 
makes the rearing of cattle his chief business usually 
seeks a location where he oan have summer range. 
This is to be found where the country is locally broken 
and rough, as in the sand hills before spoken of. or 
about the headwaters of certain streams. It is difficult 
now to obtain ownership of these lands, though some 
may yet be purchased from the remnants of railroad 
land grants, but their use may be had free by a sort of 
prior occupation right. It is tacitly agreed, and has 
become the custom, that the first comer to a range 
shall not be disturbed by other stock-owners, and in 
fact it would not pay the intruders to do so, because he 
would overstock the range and make it unprofitable 
for himself. 

That stock raising is one of the chief industries of 
the State is abundantly shown by the following figures^ 
which are the latest obtainable: 

No. of horses, 640,088, valued at ^^8,476,504 

No. of cattle, 1,643,174, valued at 6,438,352 

No. of sheep, 142,946, valued at 140,500 

No. of hogs, 1,296,433, valued at 1,320,67S 

These are the values set down for purposes of tax 
assessment, and of course they fall far short of the 
real value. 

Railroad facilities and the wonderful development 
of the great stock yards and packing houses of South 
Omaha, insure to the stock raiser a ready and profita- 
ble market. 



20 



NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 



The following figures, prepared by the South 
Omaha Union Stock Yards Company, show in readily 
intelligible form the magnitude of the business done. 

LARGEST RECEIPTS. 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE DAY. 

Cattle, October 19, 1891 6,7S4 

Hogs, Augnst 12,1890 16,725 

Sheep, S-ptember 24, 1891 8,782 

Horses and mules, June 6, 1889 718 

Cars, July 15,1890 365 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE WEEK. 

Cattle, week ending October 31, 1891 37,190 

Hogs, week ending July 31, 1890 75,797 

Siieep, week ending September 30, 1890 12,817 

Horses and mules, week ending June?, 1889 891 

Cars, week ending October 31, 1890 1,947 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE MONTH. 

Cattle, October, 1891 73,339 

Hogs, August, 1890 250,322 

Sheep, Octobisr, 1888 31,829 

Horses and mules, June, 1889 2,073 

Cars, August, 1890 5,859 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE YEAR. 

Cattle. 1890 .- 606,699 

Hogs, 1890 1,673,314 

Sheep, 1891 170,849 

Horses and mules, 1891 8,592 

Cars 1S90, 54,283 

AVERAGE WEIGHT OF HOGS. 

Statement showing the monthly average weight of 
hogs sold on this market for five years: 



Months. 



December 
January... 
February 

March 

.\ptil 

May 

June 

July 

August .... 

Sepiember 
October ... 
November 



1891. 


1890. 


1889. 


1888. 




243 


278 


280 


249 


273 


287 


231 


2X8 


262 


273 


237 


223 


258 


264 


232 


216 


259 


260 


237 


219 


260 


253 


232 


229 


2S4 


260 


236 


2.30 


259 


257 


237 


2.^4 


244 


254 


236 


237 


241 


259 


248 


238 


228 


271 


267 


250 


234 


274 


273 



1887. 



264 
235 
235 
233 
237 
245 
248 
247 
248 
252 
258 
270 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 2t 

MONTHLY RANGE OF PRICES FOR CATTLE. 

Showing the exti'eme range of prices paid on this 
market for cattle in car load lots or over for the year 
ending November 30, 1891: 



Afonths 1 Dressed Beef, 


Heifers. Cows, 
Mixed Stock. 


Western and 
Texas Steers. 


Stockers and 
Feeders. 


December 
January... 
February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July .. .. 


$2 75 @ 5 25 
3 00 @ 5 S5 

2 65 @ 5 10 

3 25 @ 5 75 

3 25 @ 5 873^ 

3 65 @ 5 95 

4 «0 ® 6 00 
3 65 @ 6 00 
3 00 @ 5 65 
3 00 @ 5 50 
3 05 @ 5 75 
2 90 @ 4 90 


$1 00 @ 3 50 

1 00 @ 3 25 

1 00 (a\ 3 75 

1 25 @ 4 25 

1 50 @ 5 10 

1 35 @ 5 25 

1 20 @ 5 10 

1 25 @ 3 50 

70 (a), 3 00 

65 @ 2 &0 

75 (a), 2 75 

80 @ 2 75 


S2 20 @ 3 20 
2 50 @ 3 75 

2 50 (oj 4 25 

3 00 @ 4 45 
3 55 @ 5 30 
3 75 Ca) 4 85 

2 80 @ 4 00 

3 00 @ 4 50 
2 50 @ 3 75 
1 95 («> 4 00 
1 80 @ 4 15 
1 85 @ 4 15 


$2 00 (a), 3 00 
2 20 @ 3 05 

1 75 @ 3 35 

2 10 (0). 3 65 
2 60 @ 4 25 

2 00 @ 4 22^. 

1 80 @, 4 10 

2 35 (ai 3 75 


August,... 
Septemb'r 
October... 
Novemb'r 


2 40 @ 3 75 
1 65 @ 3 65 
1 65 (5) 3 30 
1 60 @ 3 15 



THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. 

The quality of Nebraska butter takes deservedly 
high rank. The grasses of the northwest ai'e particu- 
larly adapted to butter making. They give to the 
product of the cow a rich, nutritious flavor. Its. 
keeping quality is remarkable, and a cleanly dairy is, 
owing to the enormous home demand, a veritable lit- 
tle gold mine. Already numbers of extensive cream- 
eries and large faiin dairies have been put in operation 
and the results have been so successful that an im- 
mense development of the industiy may be conhdentiy 
looked for. 

BEE CULTURE. 

Pains have been taken by the Nebraska Bee Keep- 
ers' Association to impi-ess upon the farmers in the 
State that on every holding of 160 acres from 500 ta 
1.000 pounds of nectar are annually wasted where bees 
are not kept to add to the productiveness of the farm.. 
Comparisons with the honey produced in other States 
show that the nectar in the trees, flowers and clovers 
. of Nebraska gives a clearer, better keeping and more 
ueadily marketable honey than even the Californian. 
The industry i-s only in its infancy, yet in 189:2 it is 
estimated that 300,000 pounds of strained honey were 
marketed in Nebraska at an average price of ten cents 
per poimd. The cost of production is merely nomina\, 
the outlay being limited to the purchase of the queen 



20 



NEBRASKA S RESOURCES, 



The following- figures, prepared by the South 
Omaha Union Stock Yards Company, show in readily 
intelligible form the magnitude of the business done. 

LARGEST RECEIPTS. 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE DAY. 

Cattle, October 19, 1891 6,784 

Hogs, Augnst 12,1890 16,725 

Sheep, S-^ptember 24, 1891 8,782 

Horses and mules, June 6, 1889 718 

Cars,Ju]y 15,1890 366 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OP STOCK IN ONE WEEK. 

Cattle, week ending October 31, 1891 37,190 

Ho28,week ending July 31, 1890 75,797 

Sheep, week ending September 30, 1890 12,817 

Horses and mules, week ending June 7, 1889 891 

Cars, week ending October 31, 1890 1,947 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE MONTH. 

Cattle, Octobtr, 1891 78,339 

Hogs, August, 1890 250,322 

Sheep, Octob45r, 1888 31,829 

Horses and inules, June, 1889 2,073 

Cars, August, 1890 5,859 

LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE YEAR. 

Cattle, 1890 606,699 

Hogs, 1890 1,673,314 

Sheep, 1891 170,849 

Horses and mules, 1891 8,592 

Cars 1S90, 54,283 

AVERAGE WEIGHT OF HOGS. 

Statement showing- the monthly average weight of 
hogs sold on this market for five years: 



Months. 



December 
January... 
February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

Sepieraber 
October .... 
November, 



1891. 


1890. 


1889. 


1888. 




243 


278 


280 


249 


273 


287 


231 


2X8 


262 


273 


237 


223 


258 


264 


232 


216 


259 


260 


237 


219 


260 


258 


232 


229 


264 


260 


236 


2.30 


259 


257 


237 


234 


244 


254 


2.36 


237 


241 


259 


248 


238 


228 


271 


267 


250 


234 


274 


273 



264 
235 
235 
233 
237 
245 
248 
247 
248 
252 
258 
270 



ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 2t 

MONTHLY RANGE OF PRICES FOR CATTLE. 

Showing the extreme range of prices paid on this 
market for cattle in car load lots or over for the year 
ending November 30, 1891: 



Months. I>''essed Beef, 
and Shipping. 


Heifers. Cows, 
Mixed Stock. 


Western and 
Texas Steers. 


Stockers and 
Feeders. 


December 
January... 
February 

March 

April 

>i«y 

June 

July 


12 75 @. 5 25 
3 00 @ 5 .^5 

2 65 @ 5 10 

3 25 @ 5 75 

3 25 @ 5 871^ 
8 65 @ 5 95 

4 €0 @ 6 00 
3 65 @ 6 00 
3 00 @ 5 65 
3 00 @ 5 50 
3 05 @ 5 75 
2 90 @ 4 90 


$1 00 @ 3 50 

1 00 @ 3 25 

1 00 @ 3 75 

1 25 @ 4 25 

1 50 @/ 5 10 

1 35 @ 5 25 

1 20 @ 5 10 

1 25 @ 3 50 

70 @ 3 00 

65 @ 2 60 

75 @ 2 75 

80 @ 2 75 


$2 20 @ 3 20 

2 50 @ 3 75 

2 50 (a> 4 25 
8 00 @ 4 45 

3 55 @ 5 30 
3 75 @ 4 85 

2 80 @ 4 00 

3 00 @ 4 50 
2 50 @ 3 75 
1 95 (aj 4 00 
1 80 @ 4 15 
1 85 @ 4 15 


?2 00 (fi). 3 00 
2 20 @ 3 05 

1 75 @ 3 35 

2 10 (d). 3 65 
2 60 @ 4 25 

2 00 @ 4 2234 

1 80 (g>, 4 10 

2 35 &, 3 75 


August.... 
Sepiemb'r 
October... 
Novemb'r 


2 40 @ 3 75 
1 65 @ 3 65 
1 65 ® 3 30 
1 60 @ 3 15 



THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. 

The quality of Nebraska butter takes deservedly 
high rank. The grasses of the northwest are particu- 
larly adapted to butter making. They give to the 
product of the cow a rich, nutritious flavor. Its. 
keeping quality is remarkable, and a cleanly dairy is, 
owing to the enormous home demand, a veritable lit- 
tle gold mine. Already numbers of extensive cream- 
eries and large farm dairies have been put in operation 
and the resuits have been so successful that an im- 
mense development of the industry may be contideiitiy 
looked for. 

BEE CULTURE. 

Pains have been taken by the Nebraska Bee Keep- 
ers' Association to impress upon the farmers in the 
State that on every holding of 160 aci'es from 500 \o 
1.000 pounds of nectar are annually wasted whei-e bees 
are not kept to add to the productiveness of the farm. 
Comparisons with the honey pi-oduced in other States 
bhow that the nectar in the trees, flowers and clovers 
of Nebraska gives a clearer, better keeping and more 
readily marketable honey than even the Calif ornian. 
The industry is only in its infancy, yet in 1892 it is 
Estimated that 300,000 pounds of strained honey were 
marketed in Nebraska at an average price of ten cents 
per pound. The cost of production is merely nominal, 
the outlay being limited to the purchase of the queen 



24 



NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, 



That the urban development is not confined to 
Omaha may be seen from the following table of the 
population of sixteen cities in the order of their rank: 



CiTIKS. 


Counties 


Population. 


Increase. 




1890. 


1880. 


Number. 


Percent. 




Douglas 

Lancaster... 
Gage 


140,452 
55,154 
13,836 
13,584 
11,494 
8,392 
8,074 
8,062 
7,536 
6,747 
3,401 
3,134 
3,055 
3,038 
2,630 
2,601 


30,518 

13,0U3 

2,447 

2,817 
4,183 
4,175 
1,783 


109,934 
42,151 
11,389 
10,767 
7,311 
4,217 
6,292 
8,062 
4,573 
3,734 
2,146 
1,003 
2,692 
2,491 
1,879 
2.601 


360.23 


Lincoln 


324 IS 


Beatrice 


465 43 




Adams 

Otoe .. .. 


382 22 


Nebraska City.. 


174 78 


Cass 


101 01 


Kearnev ... 


Buffalo 

Douglas 

Hall 


353 09 


South Omaha... 






2,963 
3,013 
1,259 
2,131 
g63 
547 
1,251 


154.34 


Fremont 

York 


Dodge 

York 

Platte 

Lincoln 

Manlison 

Jeffersonj.... 
Phelps 


123.93 
170.45 


Columbus 

North Platte 

Norfolk . .. 


47.07 
741.60 
455.39 


Fairbury 


110.23 


Holdrege 









To Nebraska, then, the eyes of our eastern brothers 
must turn as well as those of the intelligent and sturdy 
foreigners who each week arrive on our shores to find, 
in the far west. Liberty, Prosperity and a Home. 

Nebraska offers a hearty welcome to every good 
citizen. 

Where each one labors for the common good, where 
nature smiles on the willing worker, where the broad 
and liberal constitution affords security to all, there 
must arise a commonwealth whose greatness shall be 
tho pride of every Nebraskan and every American, 
when those who patiently and lovingly built it up 
shall have silently passed away. 



